John f



(No Model.)

J. I. BROWN.

' FILE BINDER. N0 475,750.

Patented May 31, 1892.

UNITE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. BROWVN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO BAKER, OF SAME PLACE.

ALBERT R.

FILE-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,750, dated May 31, 1892.

Application filed November 12, 1891- Serial No. 411,651. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. BROWN, a citi zen of the United States, residingat Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in FileBindcrs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of files or binders for orders,letters, invoices, and other papers, and is a modification of the construction of such a device shown in the patent to me, No. 399,737, dated March 19,1889.

In the present invention I employ substitute devices for creating the friction upon the upwardly-projecting rods instead of the spring shown in my said patent; and the invention relates, mainly, to the construction of these substitute devices, the file being otherwise substantially identical with the patented file.

The nature of my improvement is fully disclosed below; and it consists of a clampingbar slotted longitudinally, so that its sides are capable of being compressed or clamped against the upright rods passing through the slot, and means for forcing the sides of the bar toward each other, so that they may thus clamp the rods.

In the drawings I show at Figure 1 a perspective of my improved file. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged bottom views of the clampingbar, Fig. 2 showing the clamp-producing device in the position occupied when the bar is loose upon the rods, and Fig. 3 showing the same in the position occupied when the bar is fast. Fig. t shows a form of key used to actuate the clamp-producing device.

In the drawings, A represents the lower board, and B the upper board, each hinged to a short board a and b, respectively.

0 C are the upright rods, and D is the clamping-bar secured to and located just on top of the upper short board I). The clamping-bar is made of spring metal and is slotted longitudinally in some such fashion as that shown at m, the slot extending nearly from end to end and surrounding the upright rods, as illustrated. To the center of the bar I apply a clamping device adapted to force the sides of the bar toward each other and thus produce friction upon the upright rods. This clampproducing device is preferably made in the form shown and consists of a button or disk E above the clamping-bar, an axis 6, extending down through the bar, and a retainingdisk f below the bar. The button E carries upon its under surface two projections g, and the bar is recessed at each side, as shown at h, to give room for these projections when the button is rotated to the position shown at Fig. 2, this being the unlocked position. Then the bar is to be locked to the uprights, the button is rotated upon its axis, so as to carry each projection g over to the position shown at Fig. 3, in which position said projections exert pressure upon and force the sides of the bar inward and cause them to bear against the uprights.

In order that the axis of the clamp-producing device may not interfere with the bringing together of the sides of the bar, I form in the slot at the point where the axis is located a portion a at right angles to the body of the slot and large enough to hold the axis. This portion '11. gives a sufficient bearing to the axis without any liability to escape. The button E may be rotated in any convenient manner, either by a device permanently attached thereto or by a removable key J, such as that shown at Fig. 4, the button being recessed at 76 to receive the points j of the key. When locked to the uprights by the device shown, the clamping-bar will retain its pressure upon. the uprights until the clamp-producing device is released, and the construction of the latter is such as to prevent any accidental release, so that the papers are securely held as long as desired.

I am aware that a springing slotted bar acting upon the uprights by virtue of the spring which is in the metal of the bar itself has been used prior to my invention. That construction I disclaim.

I clain1 1. The combination, in a file or binder, of a slotted clam ping-bar, upright rods passing through the slot of the bar, and a device adapted to press the sides of the bar together, thus narrowingthe slot an d producinga clamping action upon the rods, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the upright rods,

of the bar having the slot m and a rotating having slot m, embracing a right-angled porto device carrying the projections g for causing tion at, and a rotating clamp-producing device the clamping action by the sides of the bar having an axis 6, located in said right-angled upon the uprights, substantially as set forth. portion a of the slot m, substantially as set 3. The combination, with the uprights, of forth.

the clamping-bar having slot-m and the rotat- JOHN F. BROWN. ing device having projections g, said bar be- Witnesses: ing recessed at 71, substantially as set forth. ALLAN W. HENDRICKS,

4. The combination of the clamping-bar EDWARD DANIELS. 

